The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis is guided by a dedicated Advisory Board, established in May 2008. This board plays a crucial role in the strategic direction and execution of the Institute’s mission to uplift communities in Memphis and across the nation. Comprised of accomplished individuals from diverse sectors – including community activism, law, engineering, corporate and public relations, and ministry – the Board embodies a collective commitment to fostering positive societal impact. This commitment extends to supporting various community programs, including those that touch upon crucial aspects of community well-being, mirroring the holistic approach needed in effective A2h Program Health Care Pinnacle initiatives. The Board’s expertise and dedication are instrumental in ensuring the Hooks Institute remains a vital force for progress.
Board Officers | Executive Committee
Steve Swain, Chair
Steve Swain serves as Senior Vice President and Community Lending Manager at Pinnacle Financial Partners, bringing extensive financial expertise to the Hooks Institute’s Board. A native of Alabama, Steve joined Pinnacle in 2019 after relocating to Memphis in 1997. At Pinnacle, he leads lending production office teams, collaborating with consumer, mortgage, and community development divisions to implement strategic lending programs. His commitment to community extends beyond his professional role; Steve is actively involved in Pinnacle’s Corporate Social Responsibility committee, Community Development committee, and Retail Credit committee. Prior to his tenure at Pinnacle, Steve held senior leadership positions at First Horizon and Associates First Capital Corporation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from the University of Montevallo in Alabama. Steve’s dedication to Memphis is further demonstrated through his role as Vice President of the Memphis CRA Association and his past service on the Operation HOPE, Inc. – HOPE Inside National Advisory Board.
Marvin Todd, Secretary
Marvin Todd is a Marketing Manager at FedEx, bringing a wealth of marketing acumen to the Hooks Institute. A Memphis native, Marvin’s expertise spans marketing, project management, and strategic planning and implementation. His commitment to the Memphis community is evident through his leadership as Board Chair for Vision Prep Charter School and his mentorship of youth through recreational sports programs at the Kroc Center. Marvin is a 2011 alumnus of the New Memphis Institute’s Fellows program. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and later obtained his MBA from Dowling Institute, showcasing his dedication to both professional excellence and community engagement.
BOARD
Andrew Meyers, Immediate Past Chair
Dr. Andrew Meyers is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Memphis, contributing significant academic and research experience to the Board. During his tenure at the University of Memphis, he served as Vice President for Research and Executive Director of the University’s Research Foundation. His distinguished career is marked by three University’s Superior Performance in Research Awards, the College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Research Award, and the college’s Meritorious Faculty Award. Dr. Meyers has also held the esteemed position of President of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and consulted with the U.S. Olympic Committee on athlete and coach performance enhancement. A graduate of Leadership Memphis, Dr. Meyers has been deeply involved in addressing community issues throughout the Mid-South, demonstrating his commitment to applying his expertise for societal betterment.
The Honorable Bernice B. Donald
The Honorable Bernice B. Donald brings unparalleled legal expertise and a commitment to justice to the Hooks Institute Board. Her distinguished legal career includes a law degree from the University of Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, a LLM from Duke University School of Law, and an honorary Doctors in Law from Suffolk University. Prior to her appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 2011, she served on the U.S. District Court for over fifteen years.
Judge Donald is a member of the prestigious American Law Institute and the American Bar Association (“ABA”), actively participating in various ABA sections including Judicial Division, Appellate Judges, Criminal Justice, Labor and Employment Law, Antitrust, Civil Rights and Social Justice, and Litigation, as well as the Center for Human Rights, where she chairs the Dignity Rights Project. She has served as Chair of the ABA Center for Human Rights and led the committee that published “Enhancing Justice: Reducing Bias,” an implicit bias resource book for judges and practitioners. Judge Donald also served as Chair of the ABA Criminal Justice Section, focusing on critical issues such as implicit bias, children of incarcerated parents, mass incarceration, and the collateral consequences of incarceration, reflecting her deep commitment to equitable justice.
The Honorable Kenya Hooks
Kenya Hooks continues the Hooks family legacy of leadership and service on the Board. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Hampton University in 1996 and began her career at National City Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio. Relocating to Memphis in 2003, she pursued her legal education, receiving her Juris Doctor from Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2008. Kenya’s connection to the Hooks family is profound; she is married to Michael Hooks, the great-nephew of Benjamin and Frances Hooks. She worked as a legal assistant for Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks throughout law school and until his passing in 2010. After working in private practice as a civil litigator for Bruce Turner, PLLC from 2010-2013, Kenya dedicated her career to public service with the City of Memphis. Starting as an Assistant City Prosecutor in 2013, she prosecuted violations of the City Code, collaborating with the District Attorney General’s office to combat blight in the Memphis community. In January 2019, she was appointed Chief Prosecutor for the City of Memphis, and in 2022, she was elected as Judge of Memphis Municipal Court, Division 1, further solidifying her commitment to the Memphis community.
Jabiana Bolden
Jabiana Bolden brings extensive expertise in talent acquisition and diversity and inclusion strategies to the Hooks Institute Board as Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Onboarding at First Horizon Bank in Memphis. A native Memphian, Jabiana returned to her roots, joining First Horizon in 2018 after residing in Los Angeles for several years. She spearheads strategies for sourcing diverse talent, manages the internship program, and cultivates college/university partnerships across First Horizon’s expansive 12-state footprint. Previously, in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at First Horizon, Jabiana led diversity initiatives by managing the DEI council and serving as program manager of employee resource groups for a workforce of over 7000 employees. Jabiana holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing, an MBA, and is SHRM-CP certified. She is a New Memphis Institute Fellow and serves on the Fogelman Women in Leadership Advisory Board with the University of Memphis’ Fogelman College of Business, demonstrating her commitment to professional development and community leadership.
Jesse Turner
Jesse Turner, MBA, contributes his extensive financial services experience to the Hooks Institute as Vice President, Treasury Solutions Consultant at Truist. Jesse, originally from Chicago, relocated to the Memphis area with his family in 2021. He joined Truist Memphis Region as a Treasury Consultant in July 2022, bringing over two decades of banking experience. His background encompasses management in banking operations, including managing Item Processing and Wire Transfer departments, Treasury Management Implementation and Treasury project management, and Treasury sales experience.
Prior to Truist, Jesse contributed to the Treasury teams at prominent banks such as PNC Bank, Fifth Third Bank, MUFG Bank, and MB Financial in Chicago, Illinois. Beyond his banking career, Jesse is a published author of two business handbooks and two fiction novels. He also volunteers with MIFA (Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association) as a MIphone Buddy, showcasing his dedication to community service.
Audrey Davis
Audrey Davis brings a unique blend of engineering and real estate expertise to the Hooks Institute Board as Managing Broker and part-owner of RE/MAX Experts. Prior to her successful real estate career, Audrey worked as an engineer in corporate America at Coca-Cola Enterprises and General Electric Appliances. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Institute of Technology and Christian Brothers University.
Audrey is deeply committed to community service and professional engagement. Her involvement includes membership in the Shelby County Chapter of Links, Inc (current VP), board membership for the Sickle Cell Foundation of TN, and steering council participation in the Downtown Homeless Feeding Ministry. Audrey is extensively involved with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, having served as Past Chair of the Family Advisory Council and currently serving on the Grievance Committee, Quality Patient Safety Steering Council, and Hematology Clinic Steering Council. She and her daughter have been advocates for St. Jude across the country. Audrey’s real estate involvement is extensive, including executive board membership of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers- Memphis Chapter and the MAAR Multi-Million Dollar Club Board of Directors. Her service with the Memphis Area Association of Realtors includes roles such as MLS (Chair), Professional Standards, Grievance, Fair and Affordable Housing, Nominating Committee, Governing Documents (Chair), and Leadership MAAR graduate. She is also the current chair of the Broker Involvement Committee for Tennessee, highlighting her broad impact in both professional and community spheres.
Emeritus Board Members
Logan Meeks
Logan Meeks serves as an Emeritus Board Member, continuing his long-standing support for the Hooks Institute. He is a Partner and President of Operations at A2H, Inc., a leading architectural, engineering, and planning firm in the Mid-South region. Serving on the executive committee of A2H as a partner, Logan brings significant expertise in planning and development, areas crucial for community advancement and aligning with the aims of a2h program health care pinnacle initiatives that consider the built environment’s impact on community well-being. Beyond his involvement with the Hooks Institute, Logan is a board member at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, a member of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, and the University Club of Memphis. He is also active on several technical engineering boards for local and state organizations. Logan served as the Hooks Institute Advisory Board Chair from 2014–January 2018, demonstrating his sustained leadership and commitment.
Honorary Board Members
Aashish Gahlaut
Aashish Gahlaut, an Honorary Board Member, is a Vice President of Marketing with FedEx and has been a Memphis resident for over 25 years. Originally from India, Aashish obtained his Masters in Industrial Engineering from the University of Alabama before joining FedEx. His passion for enhancing Memphis is evident through his ongoing commitment to community improvement initiatives.
Patricia Hooks Gray
Patricia Hooks Gray, daughter of Rev. Benjamin L. Hooks and Frances D. Hooks, serves as an Honorary Board Member, carrying forward her family’s dedication to education and social progress. An innovative educator, Patricia taught language arts and social studies in the Princeton School District in Cincinnati, OH. She developed and presented reading units for teachers at Core Knowledge Conventions nationwide. Patricia earned her master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from Xavier University in Cincinnati.
For twenty-one years, she was an Adjunct Professor at Xavier, teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in reading. Currently, she dedicates her time to supporting the Education Ministry with teenagers at her church. Patricia is an avid reader and researcher of relevant societal issues, reflecting her lifelong commitment to learning and community enrichment.
Johnnie R. Turner
Ms. Johnnie R. Turner, an Honorary Board Member, embodies a lifetime of activism and public service. Born in Hughes, Ark., to sharecropper parents, Johnnie’s family moved to Memphis when she was three years old. She graduated in the top 5% of her class from Manassas High School. Her activism began at LeMoyne-Owen College, where she participated in sit-ins and faced arrest. Returning to Memphis, she taught for 30 years at Memphis City Schools, assuming leadership roles, including serving as Executive Director for the Memphis Branch of the NAACP. Ms. Turner represented District 85 in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018. Her numerous accolades include Who’s Who in Black America, Great Women of the 21st Century, Shelby County Schools Hall of Fame, and Legislator of the Year, recognizing her profound impact on Memphis and beyond.
